'72 thinline MIM RI want to Bigsby

Jellyroll · May 24th, 2007, 12:58 AM

Hello, I am new to the forums, and new to Teles as well. I recently purchased a Tele 72 thinline reissue, and absolutely love it. I have never played humbucker guitars and normally prefer the bright twang of single coil guitars. However, after playing several Teles I fell for the 72 thinline. It has such a lovely tone, is very versatile, and sustains for days with a bell like tone, even unplugged. I am going to upgrade the volume and tone pots to 500k pots and add a hovland .022 cap for some extra brightness, but am considering a Bigsby. My concern is that a Bigsby may alter or undermine the wonderful solid sustain of this guitar. Also should I use the Bigsby bridge or is there a better alternative? Is the six saddle bridge it comes with a good choice? Would a vintage three saddle work on a '72. Has anyone here put a Bigsby on the 72 RI and if so how did it alter the feel of this guitar? Honestly I never dreamed a MIM Tele could be this nice, and have never been so easily won over by a guitar as I have been with this Tele. I have only had it a few weeks, and already I am considering what my next Tele will be. Any advice or opinions are welcome, and thanks in advance.
Joel

BritishBluesBoy · May 24th, 2007, 01:05 AM

Hi Jellyroll,
Welcome aboard!

My advice would be if you love the guitar so much - don't change it. If you really want a Tele with a Bigsby - build or mod another one.

Cheers!

BBB.

furrfurrfurr · May 24th, 2007, 01:18 AM

Careful with that axe, Eugene

StuH · May 24th, 2007, 03:14 AM

Welcome jellyroll.
I'm with BritishBluesBoy on this don't try to fix it if it ain't broke.

Jellyroll · May 24th, 2007, 03:34 AM

Thanks guys! I gotta say I am leaning towards your advice and leaving the guitar as is. Just wondering if anyone has done this to there '72. Guess I'll plan on buying another Tele with Bigsby already installed. Thanks again.

gumbo · May 24th, 2007, 10:31 AM

In the process of putting a Bigsby Palm Pedal on a 72 Custom RI (and they all said it couldn't happen!)..but for many different reasons to the one(s) you are considering...

...I know that even the BPP was fitted to a Thinline in UK over 30 years ago as well, BUT....

...my advice FWIW, would be to stick to something with a full solid body, and leave the Thinline as is....it's a great excuse for owning more Teles

gtech · May 24th, 2007, 10:50 AM

Welcome aboard Joel.

I agree about leaving the Thinline like it is if it is a good player.

I ruined a good one by trying to make it even better, so now I think it's better to do that on a not so good player.

Gilles

Jellyroll · May 24th, 2007, 03:32 PM

Thanks guys. I think I will leave the Thinline as is, and have the excuse for Tele #2.

I do love those Thinlines, and am thinking about a 69 RI w/ Bigsby......droool!
That won't be for some time however...

Billy Hell · June 7th, 2007, 03:23 PM

I have a MIM 69 RI and am currently searching the board for information on the Bigsby as well. I think it would be super cool to have this combo.

May 24th, 2007, 12:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jellyroll TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Age: 37 Posts: 15	'72 thinline MIM RI want to Bigsby Hello, I am new to the forums, and new to Teles as well. I recently purchased a Tele 72 thinline reissue, and absolutely love it. I have never played humbucker guitars and normally prefer the bright twang of single coil guitars. However, after playing several Teles I fell for the 72 thinline. It has such a lovely tone, is very versatile, and sustains for days with a bell like tone, even unplugged. I am going to upgrade the volume and tone pots to 500k pots and add a hovland .022 cap for some extra brightness, but am considering a Bigsby. My concern is that a Bigsby may alter or undermine the wonderful solid sustain of this guitar. Also should I use the Bigsby bridge or is there a better alternative? Is the six saddle bridge it comes with a good choice? Would a vintage three saddle work on a '72. Has anyone here put a Bigsby on the 72 RI and if so how did it alter the feel of this guitar? Honestly I never dreamed a MIM Tele could be this nice, and have never been so easily won over by a guitar as I have been with this Tele. I have only had it a few weeks, and already I am considering what my next Tele will be. Any advice or opinions are welcome, and thanks in advance. Joel

May 24th, 2007, 01:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
BritishBluesBoy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Age: 40 Posts: 4,574 62 Photos	Hi Jellyroll, Welcome aboard! My advice would be if you love the guitar so much - don't change it. If you really want a Tele with a Bigsby - build or mod another one. Cheers! BBB. __________________ BBB.

May 24th, 2007, 10:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
gumbo Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Australia Age: 60 Posts: 160	In the process of putting a Bigsby Palm Pedal on a 72 Custom RI (and they all said it couldn't happen!)..but for many different reasons to the one(s) you are considering... ...I know that even the BPP was fitted to a Thinline in UK over 30 years ago as well, BUT.... ...my advice FWIW, would be to stick to something with a full solid body, and leave the Thinline as is....it's a great excuse for owning more Teles __________________ Heaven: A Bassman 410, a good pizza, and a nice lie down

May 24th, 2007, 10:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
gtech Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada Age: 59 Posts: 1,999 173 Photos	Welcome aboard Joel. I agree about leaving the Thinline like it is if it is a good player. I ruined a good one by trying to make it even better, so now I think it's better to do that on a not so good player. Gilles __________________ Back to practice now...to make my Teles sound good.

June 7th, 2007, 03:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
Billy Hell TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Nashville, TN Age: 42 Posts: 44	I have a MIM 69 RI and am currently searching the board for information on the Bigsby as well. I think it would be super cool to have this combo. __________________ - Japanese 60's reissue Tele with Bigsby - 2006 Taylor GSRC - OH YEAH!! - 1976 Ovation acoustic Bicentennial Edition - (RIP - blew up) - Alvarez 9 string (rose wood/spruce) - 1970 Ovation Thunderhead semi-hollow body electric (flamed maple/spruce)

May 24th, 2007, 01:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
furrfurrfurr Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South of Heaven Posts: 2,434	Careful with that axe, Eugene

May 24th, 2007, 03:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
StuH Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yukon, Canada Age: 38 Posts: 1,470 12 Photos	Welcome jellyroll. I'm with BritishBluesBoy on this don't try to fix it if it ain't broke.

May 24th, 2007, 03:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jellyroll TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Age: 37 Posts: 15	Thanks guys! I gotta say I am leaning towards your advice and leaving the guitar as is. Just wondering if anyone has done this to there '72. Guess I'll plan on buying another Tele with Bigsby already installed. Thanks again.

May 24th, 2007, 03:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jellyroll TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Age: 37 Posts: 15	Thanks guys. I think I will leave the Thinline as is, and have the excuse for Tele #2. I do love those Thinlines, and am thinking about a 69 RI w/ Bigsby......droool! That won't be for some time however...